Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1887-08-26

quiet, respectable and dull. think they have
q Saxon king or two buried at Wareham.
There are SOME curious earth works at Ware
ham, which are regarded by historians as
either British, Roman or Saxon. In the lam
guage Of the guide books, There is quite
enough Of antiquarian interest at Wareham
to render it worthy Of more than a passing
visit" But as we were yet nearly twenty
miles from Dorchester, passing visit was all
that could be given We had already done
nearly thirty miles that day over somewhat
unsatisfactory road. A few miles further
along the Dorchester road. and we passed
through village known by the curious name
of Wool. A communicative countryman
whom we met on the road said we ought to
stop here and see the ruins OF Brindon abbey.
Much as we should have enjoyed gazing on
the ivy grown walls OF this abbey, we were,
without wishing to be disrespectful to the an
cient ruin, Obliged to decline. The fact is,
that thirty miles ON tricycle., over a rough
road, lessons ones ardor even for abbeys.
Dipping little southw we came within a
couple Of miles of the coast, and at Warm
well the road took northwestern direction
to the ancient town of Dorchester.
Two tired mortals we were ascending the
steep High street of this old Roman town, an
avenue of high trees circling it and remark
able Roman amphitheater ON the outskirts
The run that day had been close OIL fifty
miles. The first place that looked like a
hotel we turned into. 1t was not swell af-
fair. The hostler could not boast a nose, the
lannlady was deaf and the only servant was
lopsided ami crosseyed. But these were
tribes. They had bed ana could give us
bread and cheese and beer. 1t was after 10
o'clock. The tap room of our hostelry was
diled with villagers, drinking, smoking and
making a good deal of noise. One Of the
number was reciting the "Charge of the Light
Brigade" with a strong Dorset dialect In
spite OF the noise down stairs I was glad
enough to retire, and did so amidst the up
roarous confusion of the tap room below,
falling asleep amidst the volleys of applause
which followed the effort of the local celeb
rites to entertain the village crowd.
Breakfasting at o'clock, we took two or
three views, among others one of the Roman
amphitheatre and Judge Jeffreys' lodgings;
and taking the Bridport road began toilsome
ascent of the hills which abound in this part
OF Dorsetshire. In many parts the roads were
six inches deep with loose flint stones and our
progress was slow. Although the distance to
Bridport was not over fifteen miles, it took
three hours to do it. Bridport was once ia
nous as manufacturing place. especially for
manufactures of hemp. A "Bridport dagger"
in olden times, meant rope, and to be
stabbed by Bridport dagger" was a deli
cate way of saying man had been hanged.
At the Bull we enjoyed fine joint of roast
beef, loly-poly jam pudding, with thick
DorsetShire cream.
A few miles from Bridport is 'Sweet
Be'miste and l had made up my mind to
take glance at this beautiful little place in
the valley Of the Brit and then proceed to the
famous town of Lyme Regis in the far south
western corner of the county. The road to
Beaminster was not good, but an improve
ment on the morning ride. The praises of
this quaint old Dorset village have been sung
in the native dialect:
Sweet Be'mi'ster, that Dist aboun'
By green an woody hills al roun';
Wi hedges reachin' up between
A thousan Wells of hummer green, -cN
Wher elms lofty heads do drow
Their shades var haymakers below
And wild hedge fowrs do charm tn souls
O. maidens in ther evenen strolls
Leaving this delightful place, which was an
hours run from Bridport, we in part retraced
our ste-s, and soon after shutdown we were
spinning down the sharp decline leading into
Lyme Regis, to ME the most interesting town
in all Dorsetshire. There was always good
deal OF rugged valor about Dorsetshire people.
Most Of the town espoused the parliament
ttry cause, and the people of Lyme Regis
made most gallant defense against Prince
Maurice. The farmer Of Dorset used to say
in these rebellious times:
Chill sell my cart, and exc my plow,
And get zword if Ich know how,
For Ich mean to be right.
Lyme Regis is a sleepy little place nova
nays, with narrow billy streets, quaint gray
shops and houses, a rather pleasant prone
made along the seashore, and an extraordi-
nary breakwater called tie Cobb. Lyme
Regis is thoroughly ancient. There is no
railroad station within four miles, and moth
ing Of a modern character is calculated to jar
upon those who seek repose Wi hin the walls
Of Lyme Regis. But Lyme Regis has not
always been sleepy old place in an out of
the way corner of England. Charles l sent
his troops there in 1644. Lyme Regis stood
the siege from the Goth Of April to the 10Th o.:
June. The women of Lyme Regis fought
side by side with the men, one woman using
fifteen muskets at one attack Another brave
maiden lost her hand, but gloried in it, and
offered the other for tho peoples cause
When Prince Maurice finally retired to Exc
ter he had lost some reputation "for having
lain so long with such strength before so vile
and untenable place as Lyme Regis with
out reducing it," So said the king. Many
years later Lyme Regis took hand in an
other rebellion, this time espousing the cause
Of the Duke of Monmouth The unlucky
natural son of Charles II pawned his jewels
for this expedition. landed at Lyme Regis,
and, they say, wetted his legs in landing, He
was well received in Lyme with twenty six
virgins with colors, naked sword and Bible
A manifest asserting the validity OF the
merry monarchs marriage with Lucy Wal
ters, and denouncing James II and popery
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